Question

Directions: Choose a suitable one-word substitute for the given phrase.

A person filled with excessive zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause.

• A. Lunatic
• B. Critic
• C. Fanatic
• D. Cynic

Hint:

Think of the word for someone whose enthusiasm for a cause, especially religious or political, has become extreme and uncritical.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This question asks for the one word that means a person filled with excessive zeal, especially for an extreme religious or political cause. Let's look at each option in turn.

1. Lunatic: This means a person who is insane or acts in a wildly foolish way. It describes madness in general, not zeal for a cause, so it does not fit.
2. Critic: This is a person who judges or reviews the merits and faults of something, such as a book, film or policy. It has nothing to do with extreme zeal, so it does not fit.
3. Fanatic: This is exactly a person filled with excessive, often uncontrolled enthusiasm, particularly for a religious or political cause. This matches the definition given in the question.
4. Cynic: This is a person who doubts the sincerity or goodness of people's motives. A cynic is distrustful, not zealous, so this does not fit.

The correct word is "Fanatic," since it is the only option that captures excessive zeal for a cause. This corresponds to option (c).

Let's summarize:

• A fanatic is marked by extreme, uncritical enthusiasm for a belief or cause.
• Lunatic, critic and cynic describe unrelated qualities: madness, judgment and distrust.

So the one-word substitute is "Fanatic."